Sweater dryer and blocker



Oct. 10, 1961 w. w. WlTTlE 3,003,248

SWEATER DRYER AND BLOCKER Filed Oct. 30, 1959 In z/enfor' United States Patent 3 3,003,248 SWEATER DRYER AND BLOCKER William W. Wittie, 7600 Oglesby Ave., Chicago, 1]]. Filed Oct. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 849,832 Claims. (CI. 34-95) This invention relates to sweater dryers and blockers, one object of which is to provide a device which will accommodate the drying and blocking of a plurality of sweaters simultaneously.

Another object is to provide a device having a plurality of drying racks which may be folded on a stand into compact form.

Another object is to provide a drying device wherein a simple wire stand on which pivotal racks are mounted at their inner ends in equally spaced relation, the outer ends of said racks being provided with downwardly projecting. portions which space said racks from each other to provide an air gap there between.

With these and other objects in view the invention will be better understood by referring to the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device with one of the racks in use.

FIG. 2 is a partial view taken on the line AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the device in folded position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the supporting legs and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated 1 indicates a stand formed of Wire in inverted U shape as shown at 2 having parallel legs 3 and 4 and a horizontal connecting portion 5.

The legs 3 and 4 are provided at their lower ends with transverse perforations 6 and 7 respectively. Supporting legs 8 and 9 are provided with transverse perforations 10 and 11 respectively. Bolts 12 are mounted in the openings 6 and 10 and are releasably held in place by a wing nut 13 whereby to pivotally connect legs 3 and 8 together.

Bolts 14 are mounted in the perforations 7 and 11 and are releasably held in place by a wing nut 15 to pivotally connect legs 4 and 9 together.

Legs 8 and 9 are formed of wire comprising an elongated portion 16, one end of which is bent backward angularly as at 17 and then bent transversely inward as 1.8, the perforation it being in close proximity to the junction of the portions 16 and 17. The leg 9 is of similar construction except that the extention 18 thereof is bent transversely in the opposite direction to 18.

The legs 8 and 9 are mounted on the outer sides of the legs 3 and 4 respectively with both portions 18 and 18 extending inwardly as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

When the stand is in use, the portions 16 are permitted to pivot backwardly with their outer ends and the lower ends of the legs 3 and 4 resting on a table or floor as shown 19. Bumpers 20 are mounted on the ends of the portions 16 and 3 and 4. The portions 18 and 18 act as stops which limit the stand 2 in an inclined position as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

The legs 3 and 4 are provided with equally spaced perforations 21 and 21 respectively above the perforations 6 and 11, the lowermost perforation 21 'being in horizontal alignment with the lowermost perforation 21 Racks 22 are shown in the present instance as made of U shaped wire comprising parallel legs 23' and 24, and a connection portion 25. The free end of the leg 23 is bent inwardly as at 23 and extends through perforation 21 in leg 3. The free end of leg 24 is bent inwardly as at 24 and extends through perforation 21 in leg 4.. to. provide pivotal connection between the racks 22 and, stand. 1.

The connecting portion 25 is spaced below the plane of the legs '3 and 4 and is connected thereto by downwardly and outwardly projecting portions '26.

A supporting frame consists of a plurality of equally spaced supporting rods 27 attached at their outer ends as by spot; weldingtothe legs 3 and 4, and reinforced by a,rod 28- spot welded thereto. The rod 28 is. arranged parallel to i the, legs 3. and 4 and equidistant therebetween.

In use, the racks 22 are arranged in the positions shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, the legs 8 and 9 being swung backwardly with the ends of the legs 3 and 4 of the stand 2 and the ends of the portionv 16 resting on the table or floor 19, with portions of the legs 3 and 4, in an angular position with respect to vertical and in abutment with the portions 18 and 18 respectively. The wing nuts 13 and 15 are then tightened. The outer rack 22 is then swung downwardly with the portion 25 at rest on the table or floor 19. A towel or the like 29 is spread over the rack 22 and a sweater 30 is set thereon. In the present instance only one rack is shown with the towel 29 and sweater 30 thereon for illustration only.

When the lower rack 22 is utilized with a towel 29 and sweater 30 thereon and a second rack 22 utilized, the second rack 22 is swung downwardly with the portion 25 resting on the legs 3 and 4 of the lower rack 22. It will be noted that the lowest rack 22 is spaced from the table 19 and the succeeding rack 22 is spaced from the lower rack 22 and the sweater 30 to permit an air gap above and below the towel 29 and sweater 30. The other two racks 22 shown are then also spaced in parallel relation to each other. When not in use, the wing nuts are then loosened, the racks 22 swung upwardly in parallel relation in abutment with the connecting portion 5, and the legs 8 and 9 swung downwardly as clearly shown in FIG. 3 thereby making a compact unit.

In FIG. 5 a modification is shown wherein the rods 27 and 28 are eliminated. In this form a towel or the like 29 is arranged with its ends overlapping the legs 23 and 24. A wire clamp 31 having an eye 32 formed at one end is mounted inwardly adjacent the leg 23 and parallel thereto with the eye 32 pivotally mounted on the portion 18. A cotter pin or the like 33 is attached to the outer end of the portion 18 to retain the eye 33. The outer end of the clamp is looped in S shaped formation as shown at 35 and the upper looped portion is adapted to clamp down on the outer end of the leg 3. Intermediate the ends of the clamp are formed hooks 34 adapted to clamp the towel 29 in place on the leg 3. A similar arrangement is provided for the holding the other end of the towel 29 to the leg 4.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a device of simple construction whereby a plurality of sweaters may be dryed and blocked simultaneously, and which when not in use can be folded in a compact form for storage.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the device without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a stand of inverted U shaped formation having equally spaced parallel perforations in the legs thereof in alignment with the connecting portion thereof, a pair of supporting legs pivotally connected to the lower ends of said stand adapted to support said stand in an inclined posiprojecting portions at the free ends of the legs thereof 7 adapted to be pivotally mounted in certain of the aligned perforations of said stand, the cross member of said racks being bent downwardly in U shaped formation,

7 the lower of said cross members being adapted to rest on a floor in parallel relation with said supporting legs and stand with the succeeding upper cross members resting on the leg of an adjacent rack therebelow, said racks and supporting legs adapted to be pivoted in substantially close parallel relation with said stand and each other when in closed position.

2.. A device as specified in claim 1 in which a cover is provided for said racks, and a pair of clamping rods for said covers pivotally connected on the inwardly projecting portionsof said racks having 8 shaped formations on their outer ends adapted to be clamped on the legs of said racks in substantially parallel relation there- 3. A device of the class described comprising a frame arranged in an inclined position, a pair of supporting legs, pivotally mounted on said frame, and a plurality of U shaped racks pivotally mounted on said frame, said racks 7 4 V I and supporting legs adapted to lie in substantially the same plane of said frame when in closed position, and when in extended position the supporting legs are at an inclined position to said stand and the racks lie in stepped staggered parallel relation with each other.

4. A device as specified in claim 3 in which a cover is provided for'each rack'and means for .releasably clamping said covers to said racks.

5. A device as specified in claim 4 wherein said means comprises a pair of clamping rods having an eye at one end pivotally mounted on inwardly projecting portions of said racks, and S shaped hooks on the other ends thereof adapted to clamp on the legs of said racks in substantially parallel relation thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dement Aug. 30, 1960 

